Runtime Based Application Security and Regulatory Compliance in Cloud Environment

ABSTRACT

A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for runtime based application security. The application runtime environment executing within a virtual machine on the data processing system receives notification of a change in execution environment for the virtual machine. Responsive to determining the virtual machine is being migrated to a virtualized environment based on the notification of a change in execution environment, the application runtime environment dynamically modifies execution of an application in the application runtime environment, wherein the application comprises a set of application modules.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates generally to an improved data processingapparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for runtimebased application security and regulatory compliance in a cloudcomputing environment.

Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware andsoftware) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically theInternet). Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user's data,software and computation. Using software as a service, users also rentapplication software and databases. The cloud providers manage theinfrastructure and platforms on which the applications run. End usersmay access cloud-based applications through a web browser or alight-weight desktop or mobile app while the business software and userdata are stored on servers at a remote location.

In the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, cloud providers install andoperate application software in the cloud, and cloud users access thesoftware from cloud clients. The cloud users do not manage the cloudinfrastructure and platform on which the application is running. Thiseliminates the need to install and run the application on the clouduser's own computers, simplifying maintenance and support. What makes acloud application different from other applications is its elasticity.This can be achieved by cloning tasks onto multiple virtual machines atrun-time to meet the changing work demand. Load balancers distribute thework over a set of virtual machines. This process is inconspicuous tothe cloud user who sees only a single access point.

An application runtime system or runtime environment is a softwarecomponent designed to support the execution of computer applicationswritten in some computer language. The application runtime containsimplementations of basic low-level commands and may also implementhigher-level commands and may support type checking, debugging, and evencode generation and optimization.

An application runtime relieves programmers from the burden of writingcode for mundane tasks, such as drawing text on the screen or making anInternet connection. It also provides an abstraction layer that hidesthe complexity or variations in the services offered by the operatingsystem.

SUMMARY

In one illustrative embodiment, a method, in a data processing system,is provided for runtime based application security. The method comprisesreceiving, by an application runtime environment executing within avirtual machine on the data processing system, notification of a changein execution environment for the virtual machine. The method furthercomprises responsive to determining the virtual machine is beingmigrated to a virtualized environment based on the notification of achange in execution environment, dynamically modifying, by theapplication runtime environment, execution of an application in theapplication runtime environment, wherein the application comprises a setof application modules.

In other illustrative embodiments, a computer program product comprisinga computer useable or readable medium having a computer readable programis provided. The computer readable program, when executed on a computingdevice, causes the computing device to perform various ones of, andcombinations of, the operations outlined above with regard to the methodillustrative embodiment.

In yet another illustrative embodiment, a system/apparatus is provided.The system/apparatus may comprise one or more processors and a memorycoupled to the one or more processors. The memory may compriseinstructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform various ones of, and combinationsof, the operations outlined above with regard to the method illustrativeembodiment.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bedescribed in, or will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart in view of, the following detailed description of the exampleembodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, as well as a preferred mode of use and further objectivesand advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing node according to an illustrativeembodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts a cloud computing environment according an illustrativeembodiment;

FIG. 3 depicts abstraction model layers according to an illustrativeembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data processing system with applicationruntime based security and regulatory compliance in accordance with anillustrative embodiment; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B present a flowchart illustrating operation of amechanism for application runtime based security and regulatorycompliance in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrative embodiments provide a mechanism for runtime basedapplication security and regulatory compliance in a cloud computingenvironment. The application runtime is notified of its executionenvironment to allow the application runtime to dynamically modify itsbehavior. If an application executing in the application runtimeenvironment processes or generates very sensitive data, which is notsafe to handle in a virtualized execution environment, the applicationruntime may selectively disable only those application modules andservices that deal with such data in a virtualized environment.

Each application module may have an attribute that indicates whether themodule can be run in a virtualized or cloud environment. The applicationruntime, before loading the application modules, may check the attributeand compare it with runtime environment details. Based on the attributevalue, the application runtime can load the module or disable itsloading. Additionally, if the application runtime decides to not load agiven application module based on its attribute value, the applicationruntime may query a service registry to get a version of the module withspecific functionality suitable for the specific runtime environment, ifavailable. The application runtime may also query a trusted moduleobject registry to deploy application modules that provide neededfunctionality with enhanced security, for example, as per the changes inthe execution environment.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited. herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment.Rather, embodiments of the present invention are capable of beingimplemented in conjunction with any other type of computing environmentnow known or later developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least live characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based email). Theconsumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructureincluding network, servers, operating systems, storage, or evenindividual application capabilities, with the possible exception oflimited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for loadbalancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 10 is only one example of a suitablecloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as tothe scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 10 is capable ofbeing implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forthhereinabove.

In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server 12, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, handheld or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, computer system/server 12 in cloud computing node 10is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device, Thecomponents of computer system/server 12 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28,and a bus 18 that couples various system components including systemmemory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 2) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 3 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include mainframes, in oneexample IBM® zSeriesk® systems; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)architecture based servers, in one example IBM pSeries® systems; IBMxSeries® systems; IBM BladeCenter® systems; storage devices; networksand networking components. Examples of software components includenetwork application server software, in one example IBM WebSphere®application server software; and database software, in one example IBMDB2® database software. (IBM, zSeries, pSeries, xSeries, BladeCenter,WebSphere, and DB2 are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation registered in many jurisdictions worldwide).

Virtualization layer 62 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers;virtual storage; virtual networks, including virtual private networks;virtual applications and operating systems; and virtual clients.

In one example, management layer 64 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning provides dynamic procurement of computingresources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks withinthe cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing provide costtracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computingenvironment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management providescloud computing resource allocation and management such that requiredservice levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning andfulfillment provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloudcomputing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated inaccordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 66 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation; software development and lifecycle management; virtualclassroom education deliver; data analytics processing; and transactionprocessing.

Open Services Gateway Initiative (OSGi™) framework is a module systemand service platform for the Java™ programming language that implementsa complete and dynamic component model. The OSGi™ framework installsunits of resources called “bundles,” which are application modules thattogether make up an application. Applications or bundles can be remotelyinstalled, started, stopped, updated, and uninstalled without requiringa reboot; management of Java™ packages/classes is specified in greatdetail. Application life cycle management (start, stop, install, etc.)is done via application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow forremote downloading of management policies. The service registry allowsbundles to detect the addition of new services, or the removal ofservices, and adapt accordingly.

Bundles can export services or run processes and have their dependenciesmanaged, such that a bundle can be expected to have its requirementsmanaged by the container (runtime environment). Each bundle can alsohave its own internal classpath, so that it can serve as an independentunit, should that be desirable. All of this is standard such that anyvalid OSGi™ bundle can theoretical be installed in any valid OSGi™container.

With the advent of cloud computing, more and more companies are movingtheir traditional application runtime-based applications, such asapplications in the OSGi™ framework, to cloud environments to reap thebenefits of cloud computing. For handling unexpected load during peakperiods, many customers exploit hybrid cloud approaches where theapplication may run in a private cloud (inside a customer's firewall)and additional capacity is sourced from a public cloud. The applicationis available in both the private cloud and the public cloud. However,moving these traditional applications to a cloud environment raises someunique challenges with respect to security and regulatory compliance.

The most prevalent options for taking care of these security aspectsrelated to application runtime environments when they are migrated to acloud environment is to provide a greater degree of isolation for thevirtual machine (VM) that is supposed to execute these applications,referred to as VM hardening, and to enforce stringent security policiesfor such VMs and hosts running these security sensitive applications.These approaches have several disadvantages. Increasing isolationbetween VMs increases complexity of migration of VMs as per cloudpolicies and dynamic resource requirements, thus reducing flexibility.Providing isolation at VM levels reduces multi-tenancy at a higher levelof the stack (i.e., at database level, application level, etc.),reducing the efficient utilization of resources for sharing. Theseapproaches also require additional provisions in terms of setting extrapolicies, more logging, use of specialized tools for security, etc. atthe cloud provider's end to handle such applications, which increasescost of hosting such applications the cloud.

As described above, management layer 64 provides functions of resourceprovisioning, service level management, security, and so forth. Thus,management layer 64 may provision resources to a virtual machine and anapplication runtime executing within the virtual machine. Managementlayer 64 may also migrate a virtual machine to another host, from adedicated host to a private cloud, from a private cloud to a publiccloud, from a public cloud to a private cloud, from a private cloud to adedicated host, or other combinations of the above. In accordance withan illustrative embodiment, the application runtime is made aware of thefact it is running in a virtualized/cloud environment so that theapplication runtime can dynamically change its behavior.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data processing system with applicationruntime based security and regulatory compliance in accordance with anillustrative embodiment. Data processing system 400 comprises host 450having hardware resources, such as processors, memory, I/O devices,persistent storage devices, etc. Host 450 runs virtual machine monitor(VMM) 440, which virtualizes hardware resources of host 450 to beallocated to virtual machines 431, 432, 433. A virtual machine (VM) is asoftware implementation of a machine (i.e., a computer) that executesprograms like a physical machine. A system virtual machine provides acomplete system platform which supports the execution of a completeoperating system (OS). VMs may emulate an existing architecture, and arebuilt with the purpose of providing a platform to run programs wherehaving multiple instances of virtual machines lead to more efficient useof computing resource, both in terms of energy consumption as well ascost effectiveness (known as hardware virtualization, the key to cloudcomputing environment).

VM 1 431 runs application runtime 410, which loads application 411 madeup of application modules 412. In accordance with the illustrativeembodiment, application runtime 410 gets a notification of its executionenvironment from VM 1 431 or VMM 440. The notification may identify thatapplication runtime 410 is executing on a physical system, is executingin a virtual environment, or is migration happened or is happening. Thenotification may identify whether the virtual environment is a privateor public cloud. The notification may identify whether the applicationenvironment is being migrated from a physical system to a virtualenvironment or vice versa, from a private cloud to a public cloud orvice versa, etc.

Based on the notification, application runtime 410 may check attributesof application modules 412. The attributes may be specified as metadataof the modules or the service registration attributes of the associatedservice by the provider module. Application runtime 410 determineswhether application modules 412 are sensitive to execution environmentor changes to execution environment. In the case of sensitive and securedata handling modules, attributes may be specified and marked withalternate options, such as the following: execute only on physicalenvironment, execute on physical and secure (private) virtualenvironment, or no attribute specified or execute any (insensitive toexecution environment).

For modules that are sensitive to execution environment, the applicationruntime 410 may make decisions regarding the behavior of application411. Application runtime 410 may request execution environment toprovide enhanced security or defer the migration. Application runtime410 may seek out secure and environment-specific alternateimplementation of sensitive functionality. The application runtime 410may contact trusted module registry 420 to provision alternate modulesthat satisfy the security needs of the application and are suitable forthe execution environment. The application runtime 410 may temporarilydisable sensitive bundles (functionality). If both of the above optionsfail, application runtime 410 may temporarily deactivate the sensitivebundle and hence the associated functionality until the nextnotification or event for favorable or compatible execution environmentavailability or availability of alternate implementation of sensitivemodules.

In one embodiment, application engine 410 may perform combinations ofthe above according to user preferences in preferences data structure413. That is, preferences data structure 413 may comprise preferencesfor security and regulatory compliance with respect to provisioningand/or migrating application 411. Preferences 413 may specify whetherapplication 411 must complete functions or services before beingmigrated. Preferences 413 may specify whether application runtime 410may disable particular functions or services or whether applicationruntime 410 must disable particular functions or services whenprovisioning to or migrating to a virtual environment. Preferences 413may also specify whether application runtime 410 is permitted toprovision alternate modules in application 411 responsive toprovisioning to or migrating to a virtual environment. Preferences 413may also specify whether application 410 is to revert back to theoriginal configuration when migrating back to a physical system orprivate cloud environment.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method, or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in any one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer usable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in abaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Computer code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, radio frequency (RF), etc., or anysuitable combination thereof.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java™, Smalltalk™, C++, or the like, and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer, or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to the illustrativeembodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block ofthe flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions thatimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus, or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

FIGS. 5A and 5B present a flowchart illustrating operation of amechanism for application runtime based security and regulatorycompliance in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. With referenceto FIG. 5A, operation begins when provisioning an application in anapplication runtime (block 500), and the mechanism receives anotification of the execution environment form the virtual machine inwhich the application runtime executes (block 501). The mechanismrequests environment-specific application modules from a trusted moduleregistry (block 502) and provisions the application modules (block 503).

The mechanism then determines whether the application runtime receives anotification indicating migration of the execution environment anddetermines whether the execution environment to which the applicationruntime is being migrated is less secure than, more secure than, or thesame as the current execution environment (block 504). The executionenvironment may be more secure if the application runtime is beingmigrated from a public cloud to a private cloud, from a private cloud toa dedicated physical system, or from a public cloud to a dedicatedphysical system, for example. The execution environment may be lesssecure if the application runtime is being migrated from a dedicatedphysical system to a private cloud, from a private cloud to a publiccloud, or from a dedicated physical system to a public cloud, forexample. The execution environment may be the same if the applicationruntime is being migrated from a physical system to another physicalsystem or from one public cloud to another public cloud, for example.

If the mechanism receives a notification and determines the executionenvironment to which the application runtime is being migrated is thesame as the current execution environment in block 504, then theapplication runtime does not modify the behavior of the application, andoperation returns to block 504 to determine whether the applicationruntime receives a notification indicating migration of the executionenvironment.

If the mechanism receives a notification and determines the executionenvironment to which the application runtime is being migrated is moresecure than the current environment, the mechanism checks applicationmodule properties (block 505). The mechanism determines whether at leastone application module is secure, i.e., sensitive to virtualenvironments (block 506). If the mechanism determines no applicationmodules are sensitive to virtual environments, then operation returns toblock 504 to determine whether the application runtime receives anotification indicating migration of the execution environment.

If the mechanism determines at least one application module is sensitiveto virtual environments in block 506, then the mechanism determineswhether to replace application modules with alternate,environment-specific modules (block 507). The mechanism may determine toreplace application modules based on preferences in a preferences datastructure or based on whether such alternate modules are available. Ifthe mechanism determines to replace one or more application modules, themechanism requests environment-specific application modules from atrusted module registry (block 508). The mechanism then provisions thealternate application modules (block 509).

Thereafter, or if the mechanism cannot or does not replace applicationmodules in block 507, the mechanism determines whether to enablefunctions or services in the application (block 510). The mechanism maydetermine to re-enable functions or services that were previouslydisabled based on preferences in a preferences data structure or basedon whether the mechanism was able to replace application modules withenvironment-specific modules. If the mechanism determines to re-enablefunctions or services, the mechanism re-enables secure functions in theapplication modules (block 511). Thereafter, or if the mechanismdetermines to not disable functions or services in block 510, operationreturns to block 504 to determine whether the application runtimereceives a notification indicating migration of the executionenvironment.

If the mechanism receives a notification and determines the executionenvironment to which the application runtime is being migrated is lesssecure than the current environment in block 504, then turning to FIG.5B, the mechanism determines whether to request delay of migration(block 512). If the mechanism determines to request delay of migration,the mechanism requests delay in migration of the execution environment(block 513). The mechanism completes critical processing (block 514).Then, the mechanism checks application module properties (block 515).

Thereafter, or if the mechanism does not request delay in migration inblock 512, the mechanism determines whether at least one applicationmodule is secure, i.e., sensitive to virtual environments (block 516).If the mechanism determines no application modules are sensitive tovirtual environments, then operation returns to block 504 in FIG. 5A todetermine whether the application runtime receives a notificationindicating migration of the execution environment.

If the mechanism determines at least one application module is sensitiveto virtual environments in block 516, then the mechanism determineswhether to replace application modules with alternate,environment-specific modules (block 517). The mechanism may determine toreplace application modules based on preferences in a preferences datastructure or based on whether such alternate modules are available. Ifthe mechanism determines to replace one or more application modules, themechanism requests environment-specific application modules from atrusted module registry (block 518). The mechanism then provisions thealternate application modules (block 519).

Thereafter, or if the mechanism cannot or does not replace applicationmodules in block 517, the mechanism determines whether to disablefunctions or services in the application (block 520). The mechanism maydetermine to disable functions or services based on preferences in apreferences data structure or based on whether the mechanism was able toreplace application modules with environment-specific modules. If themechanism determines to disable functions or services, the mechanismdisables secure functions in the application modules (block 521).Thereafter, or if the mechanism determines to not disable functions orservices in block 520, operation returns to block 504 in FIG. 5A todetermine whether the application runtime receives a notificationindicating migration of the execution environment.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures, For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Thus, the illustrative embodiments provide mechanisms for runtime basedapplication security and regulatory compliance in a cloud computingenvironment. The virtual machine or virtual machine monitor exportsplatform properties to the application runtime. The virtual machine orvirtual machine monitor may also perform dynamic notification ofplatform property changes to the application runtime. The applicationspecifies security sensitivity as an attribute of application modules.The application runtime has the ability to disable or enable a subset offunctionality, request more services from the runtime or dynamicallyseek environment specific implementations in response to changes in theexecution environment. The application runtime may enable or disableloading of application modules based on a combination of platformproperties and module security attributes. The application module mayalso switch a specific module with an alternate version of the samemodule based on platform properties and module security attributes.

As noted above, it should be appreciated that the illustrativeembodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardwareand software elements. In one example embodiment, the mechanisms of theillustrative embodiments are implemented in software or program code,which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software,microcode, etc.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters mayalso be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system tobecome coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers orstorage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems,cable modems and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currentlyavailable types of network adapters.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposesof illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention, the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to: receive, by an application runtime environment executing within a virtual machine on the data processing system, notification of a change in execution environment for the virtual machine; and responsive to determining the virtual machine is being migrated to a virtualized environment based on the notification of a change in execution environment, dynamically modify, by the application runtime environment, execution of an application in the application runtime environment, wherein the application comprises a set of application modules.
 12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein modifying execution of applications in the application runtime environment comprises disabling functionality of at least one application module within the set of application modules.
 13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein modifying execution of applications in the application runtime environment comprises disabling at least one module or service executing in the application runtime environment.
 14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein modifying execution of applications in the application runtime environment comprises: querying a service registry for an alternate version of a software module with enhanced security; and deploying the alternate version of the software module in the application runtime environment.
 15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein each software module in the set of software modules has a security attribute that indicates whether the software module can be run in a virtualized environment.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein modifying execution of applications in the application runtime environment comprises: identifying a given software module in the set of software modules with a security attribute indicating the given software module cannot be run in a virtualized environment; querying a service registry for an alternate version of the given software module, wherein the alternate version of the given software module has a security attribute indicating the alternate version of the given software module can be run in a virtualized environment; and deploying the alternate version of the given software module in place of the given software module.
 17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to: responsive to determining the virtual machine has been migrated to a virtualized environment based on the notification of a change in execution environment, requesting, by the application runtime environment, enhanced data isolation from the execution environment.
 18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to: responsive to determining the virtual machine has been migrated to a virtualized environment based on the notification of a change in execution environment, request, by the application runtime environment, additional security from the execution environment.
 19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein determining the virtual machine is being migrated to a virtualized environment comprises determining the virtual machine is being migrated from a private cloud to a public cloud.
 20. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein determining the virtual machine is being migrated to a virtualized environment comprises determining the virtual machine is being migrated from a physical machine to a virtual environment.
 21. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a data processing system and wherein the computer readable program was downloaded over a network from a remote data processing system.
 22. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a server data processing system and wherein the computer readable program is downloaded over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a computer readable storage medium with the remote system.
 23. An apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive, by an application time environment executing within a virtual machine on the data processing system, notification of a change in execution environment for the virtual machine; and responsive to determining the virtual machine is being migrated to a virtualized environment based on the notification of a change in execution environment, dynamically modify, by the application runtime environment, execution of an application in the application runtime environment, wherein the application comprises a set of application modules.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein modifying execution of applications in the application runtime environment comprises disabling functionality of at least one application module within the set of application modules.
 25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein modifying execution of applications in the application runtime environment comprises disabling at least one module or service executing in the application runtime environment.
 26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein modifying execution of applications in the application runtime environment comprises: querying a service registry for an alternate version of a software module with enhanced security; and deploying the alternate version of the software module in the application runtime environment.
 27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each software module in the set of software modules has a security attribute that indicates whether the software module can be run in a virtualized environment.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein modifying execution of applications in the application runtime environment comprises: identifying a given software module in the set of software modules with a security attribute indicating the given software module cannot be run in a virtualized environment; querying a service registry for an alternate version of the given software module, wherein the alternate version of the given software module has a security attribute indicating the alternate version of the given software module can be run in a virtualized environment; and deploying the alternate version of the given software module in place of the given software module.
 29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: responsive to determining the virtual machine has been migrated to a virtualized environment based on the notification of a change in execution environment, requesting, by the application runtime environment, enhanced data isolation from the execution environment.
 30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: responsive to determining the virtual machine has been migrated to a virtualized environment based on the notification of a change in execution environment, requesting, by the application runtime environment, additional security from the execution environment.
 31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein determining the virtual machine is being migrated to a virtualized environment comprises determining the virtual machine is being migrated from a private cloud to a public cloud.
 32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein determining the virtual machine is being migrated to a virtualized environment comprises determining the virtual machine is being migrated from a physical machine to a virtual environment. 